WHERE STRIDES THE BEHEMOTH

AHEAD OF THEIR HEADLINE SLOT AT BLOODSTOCK, WE DELVE INTO MASTODON’S REMARKABLE, OFTEN TUMULTUOUS VOYAGE SO FAR

As metal’s founding fathers ride off into the sunset, or begin winding down their careers for good, there’s never been a greater need for torchbearers to stand up and be counted. Over the past sixteen years, Mastodon have been doing exactly that: crafting deep, uncompromising and boundary-pushing music, honouring their underground roots and infiltrating the mainstream.

From burning up the freeways of the United States with just a few dollars to their name to unleashing some of the heaviest, most ambitious major label releases of the 21st century, through death, tragedy and the trials of the road, it’s been an incredible ride. So, with their headline set at Bloodstock Festival looming, Terrorizer looks back at exactly how they got here, in the words of the self-proclaimed “Shaggy-ass dirtbags” who made it happen.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Like so many bands over the years, Mastodon owe a considerable debt to serendipity. As the four-piece – bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher, and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor – assembled for their early jams at the turn of the millennium, the prospect of awards and festival mainstages never even crossed their minds…

Brann [Dailor, drums]: “Bill and I had been playing in Today Is The Day for almost two years, but we started to think about moving on. It was an established band already, and Bill was playing bass instead of guitar, so I don’t think he felt all that fulfilled. As his girlfriend lived down in Atlanta, Georgia, he invited me to move down there with him, to start something new.”

About Terrorizer Magazine

I know I am not alone when I say I’m a sucker for being nostalgic. The thing about loving music is that because it plays such a massive part in my life, when I listen to things, it invokes so many memories. I always find myself taking myself back to when I first heard said record, who I was with, what I was doing and so on. Right now as I write this, I’m listening to Prong’s ‘Force Fed’ album, recounting all the shows I saw Tommy and co in at the now defunct Birmingham Edwards No.8 club during my teens.
Those shows were immense, even if the number of punters wasn’t! I’ve seen them in more recent years and still enjoy their musical output, but those early days to me, personally, were special. What has this got to do with anything, I hear you say? Well really, it’s the same reason as why I wanted to put Mastodon on the cover of this month’s issue ahead of their headline performance at Bloodstock. You see, Mastodon are one of those seriously special bands, who have not only etched themselves in my own nostalgia bank (hey, anyone who witnessed their debut capital gig at London’s Underworld supporting High On Fire will always remember that show) but more importantly, into the wider scheme of metal’s rich history. Never once have they repeated themselves musically and consequently they have successfully created a stunning discography that continues to remain vital as the years go by.
Mastodon were a game changer and their Bloodstock show allows us a chance to remind ourselves just why we love them so much. In their own words, our cover feature allows the quartet look back at their career to date and look forward to the future too. Crack open a bottle, stick any of their albums on the stereo, flip to the interview and enjoy some nostalgia yourselves!
Darren Sadler, Editor